Ficedula Press Release, May 24, 2022

The nesting bird population in the Canton of Ticino is growing

Good news for nesting birds in Ticino. Ficedula, the Association for the Study and Conservation of Birds in Italian-speaking Switzerland, reports that, after a long wait, the Red Kite is finally nesting here as well. In recent years, the Red Kite has expanded its range north of the Alps, and sightings have become increasingly frequent in Ticino as well—initially of only wintering birds and later of summer residents. Ficedula had been monitoring several sites in some of Ticino’s Alpine valleys for some time. This year, finally, a pair is successfully nesting.

The Red Kite, unlike the more common Black Kite—which is found mainly along Lake Verbano and Lake Ceresio—is larger and is easily recognized by its reddish plumage and deeply forked tail, from which it derives its English name, “kite.” It has a wingspan of up to 160 cm and ranks third in size among birds of prey nesting in Switzerland, behind the Bearded Vulture and the Golden Eagle. After 30 days of incubation of the 2–3 eggs, the chicks leave the nest after spending less than two months there.

The Ticino nest is located at the central fork of a conifer, about 7 meters above the ground. Nesting in conifers is common among many diurnal birds of prey, which feel more protected this way at the start of the nesting season when the deciduous trees are still bare.

Ficedula invites all citizens to report sightings of red kites by sending an email to segreteria.ficedula@gmail.com or by calling 079 207 14 07.